09

Oct

How to Choose the Right Rug for Your Living Room

There are many do’s and don’ts to choosing the right rug for your living room. There are techniques that designers use when choosing a rug for a room that helps them find exactly what the room needs to look its best. Knowing these techniques will help you find the perfect rug and help you design your living room like a pro.

Start with the Right Size

When it comes to choosing a rug for your living room, proportion is everything. Rugs come in hundreds of sizes, but the size you choose greatly affects the overall look of the room. The size you choose depends on the floor plan of the home, the size of the living room, and the layout of the room. If your home consists of an open floor plan, a rug is a perfect way to define space. In a large living room with a floating seating area, all the furniture pieces should rest on the rug. If the sofa rests against the wall, you can choose a size that allows the front legs of each piece of seating to rest on the edge. If the rug fits under one piece of furniture, it is too small and will ruin the look of the living room. For example, if the rug only fits under the coffee table you’re giving the illusion of a small room because the rug is smaller the furniture in the room. Choose a rug that is proportionate to the rest of the room.

Choosing the Right Colors

Once you figure out the size, the next thing you want to do is decide on the color/look around the room, what is the main color of the room? What are your accent colors? The colors you find in your living room should be the color you choose for your rug. You don’t have to use every single color found, but you want to use the most prominent one. For example, if your sofa is gray and is accented with white pillows, you want to choose a rug that is also gray and white. If you have a beige sofa, gray drapes, and blue accent pillows, then you want to choose a rug that has either beige or gray as its main color. It’s extremely important that the rug fits into the overall color scheme of the room or it will look completely out of place.

Finding the Right Texture and Pattern

After finding the right size and color, you need to find the right texture and pattern. Rugs are made of numerous materials: some are stain resistant, some are heavy, some are soft and some are thick. There are so many options when it comes to choosing a texture you may not know where to start. Ask yourself a few questions like, will the rug require frequent cleaning because of kids or pets? Do you want something softer or more durable? Answering these questions will guide you in the right direction for finding the perfect rug for your living room. When it comes to choosing a pattern, however, you want to use the same thought process you used when choosing the colors. What theme do you have going on in the living room right now? Do you want something plain and simple, or something that draws attention to space?

Planning on investing in a good area rug is essential to finding the perfect fit for your living room. It can feel a bit overwhelming at first but doing some research and learning about your options is the first step to any major purchase. Rugs are expensive, but a beautiful addition to any room in your home. Be sure you are happy with your decision before making the investment.